Groton City police officer helps deliver baby

Izaskun E. Larraņeta

Groton — It was 2:18 a.m. Thursday when the city's emergency dispatch center got a call from a woman who said she was about to have a baby.

Sgt. Mark Tourville arrived at the Cutler Street home within a minute and found the 23-year-old woman on the living room floor.

"You know when you have time and when you don't have time," he said. "We didn't have time."

Tourville said the woman, who he wouldn't identify for privacy reasons, was crowning and in less than a minute had delivered her first child, a healthy baby boy.

Tourville said he "caught" the baby. Groton City firefighters helped with the aftermath of the birth.

"We wrapped him up in a blanket and gave him back to mom," Tourville said.

This was the second baby Tourville has helped deliver in his 23 years on the force. The first delivery occurred about 20 years ago.

Tourville said the woman was alone and grateful for the support she received during the delivery.

The woman and newborn were taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. Tourville said both are doing fine.

"This is the great thing about this job," Tourville said. "One minute you're arresting (someone), and the next you are helping someone who needs it. You go from one extreme to another. It's nice to be able to put a smile on someone's face and to know that you did something for them."